Mt. Belford

Route: Northwest Ridge
Posted On: 12/8/2019, By: amderr22
Info: We didn't make it to the summit - high winds from treeline onward. Didn't run into a single person over two days! There is still a packed trench from the trailhead to the stream crossing, but from that point onward route-finding gets more difficult. As long as you stay on route though there's still a good packed path. We used snowshoes from the crossing onward as wind was drifting things, but used them all the way on the descent as the snow got softer. We had to park at the winter closure, but any 4WD vehicle with clearance can still make it to the trailhead (until it snows again). 

Route: Oxford Traverse/NW Ridge up, Oxford Gulley down
Posted On: 12/2/2019, By: Unknown
Info: I had the only vehicle tracks on the road after private property. Parked 1.8 miles from TH. Had the gulch to ourselves the entire day, broke trail with snow shoes to NW ridge. Used traction to summit, traction and poles towards Oxford. Traction and snowshoes down Oxfords gulley. I don't recommend taking Oxfords gulley unless you are very very experienced or don't mind class 5 downclimbs. No ice axe needed on this peaks atm. 

Route: Northwest Ridge
Posted On: 11/13/2019, By: lomiller
Info: The road to the TH was in good condition, snowy in some areas, but any car should be able to get through if they drive careful. The trail was almost completely snow covered, I wore microspikes the entire time. Trail was easy to find as well. 

Route: Northwest Ridge
Posted On: 10/27/2019, By: Unknown
Info: Snow from the TH to summit, trail was fairly broken to tree line. After tree line two groups returned without attempting to summit. Left my dog and I to break trail in strong winds. Snow blow was a factor, causing us to summit Belford and call off Oxford which I really didn't want to do. If I had doggy snow goggles we could've probably made it, uncomfortably. Glissaded from the summit down, over a rock or two. Lost a microspike and beanie on the return near the cliff off at ascending climbers right ridge. Reward if found, with new snow coming in I doubt it. Creek was still running as of yesterday through the avalanche debris. Winter conditions from here on out 

Route: Northwest Ridge
Posted On: 10/13/2019, By: daway8
Info: Small amounts of snow on trail up to the main ridge going up Belford. Snow coverage gradually increases going up. Didn't put on microspikes until a little way before the summit but left them on the whole way down the ridge. As others have said, this route tends to be very windy so bring layers. Had lots of layers on top to stay warm but by the way down it was so toasty that on the switchbacks I felt like a rotisserie chicken being cooked and was shedding layers left and right. No need at all for snowshoes yet. 

Route: via Elkhead Pass (South)
Posted On: 9/2/2019, By: madmattd
Info: Hauled full pack (~27lb at this point) all the way up from the Pine Creek/Elkhead Pass junction. Trail is fine all the way, though keep an eye out at the stream crossing just above treeline, it heads hard NorthEast here, and if you don't pick it up immediately you'll wander 6'-8' tall willows for a while (made that mistake the day before while day-hiking Missouri, so luckily I knew this before heading up pre-dawn for Belford). Above the willows the trail does get faint in a few spots briefly, but it mostly heads straight toward the pass until 12,600' by which time the trail is very clear, so trust your gut and keep straight unless you see cairns. 

Route: Northwest Ridge
Posted On: 8/4/2019, By: Harrison
Info: Summer conditions. Lovely route. Crew has done well to replace the trail destroyed by avalanche. The trail looks like a 'game trail' when passing between a couple trees. The trail then promptly opens up and has been replaced well. 

Route: Northwest Ridge
Posted On: 8/1/2019, By: jryor121
Info: Conditions are completely fine, with one section on the approach that was half flooded with runoff. Parts of the descent got a bit slippery with the morning dew, especially on some of the rocks. Other than that, trail is clear of any diversions or snow patches. 

Route: Northwest Ridge
Posted On: 7/29/2019, By: aldsw
Info: Clear and dry all the way up except the creek crossing in the avalanche field. There's a nice bridge that made crossing easy. 

Route: Northwest Ridge
Posted On: 7/21/2019, By: tcphoto87
Info: We started at 3:20am and summited Belford around 7:30 (taking our time) Summited Oxford at 9 and back to the car by 12:45. No snow on the trail to Belford. One tiny, easily avoidable patch to Oxford. Definitely don't need any traction. Mountainforecast said clear until 3, but a thunderstorm popped over the area looking toward Elbert around 10. (pictured) Heard a few cracks of thunder along the ridge on the way down and sprinkles by the time we reached treeline, then looked like it cleared back up. 

Route: Northwest Ridge
Posted On: 7/19/2019, By: blake_12
Info: Started @ 5:45am, summited Mt. Belford around 9:15am, made it to Mt. Oxford around 10:30am, back on Belford around noon, back to the car before 2:00pm. Trail dry the whole way. No need for microspikes. Stopped to take photos and talk to other hikers and enjoyed the views for a bit on each summit. Shoutout to Bill, CFI and all those that contribute to this site! Beautiful scenery, great people and a couple other very cool dogs! 

Route: Northwest Ridge
Posted On: 7/13/2019, By: Lisbeth
Info: Didnt get there until after 7 and no problem parking on the road adjacent to the parking lot. It took the fastest in our family less than 3 hours and the slowest almost 5 hours to summit. Didn't have to go through any snow. Great summer day all the way to the peak. It was almost as long going down too as a previous poster said due to how steep and rocky it is. Beautiful wildflowers and some wildlife along the way. 

Route: Northwest Ridge
Posted On: 7/6/2019, By: scotty1vc
Info: A few 50 foot long snow chutes along the way but they are easily passable. Peaks on Belford and Oxford are in superb shape. 

Route: Northwest Ridge
Posted On: 7/8/2019, By: DRenn8503
Info: We did the Belford/Oxford combo. No issue on the road to the trailhead, and plenty of great dispersed camping along the road. We camped the night before and reached the parking lot of the trailhead at 3:00 a.m. and was surprised to see we had the last parking spot. If you enjoy switchbacks you'll love this hike. There were a couple of snowfields shortly past the old shack but we did not need our spikes. These fields had softened considerably in the afternoon but still never needed spikes. Once you pass the trail junction and begin up the ridge the climb gets steeper but the trail was in great shape and route finding is not much of an issue. A couple of small snowfields that are easily avoidable are the only real obstacles remaining to the summit. With burning legs, the descent down Belford to the saddle that leads to Oxford looks a little daunting. The descent is much more difficult than the climb up Oxford. Once on the saddle it is an easy climb to Oxford but coming back up Belford was mentally the most difficult part of the day. Coming back down Belford took us almost as long as hiking up due to the loose dirt and rock the entire way down. Definitely close to perfect summer climbing conditions. Even with a full parking lot, it never felt like a lot of people. 

Route: Northwest Ridge
Posted On: 6/30/2019, By: Owen Puffenberger
Info: The trail is dry from the TH to the old cabin. CFI have done a great job reconstructing the trail through the avalanche debris field. Between the cabin and the Belford/Elkhead Pass split, there are 5 snowfields to cross. The longest is about 100 yards. All are flat and have a solid boot pack, though they were softening on the return trip. Going up the ridge, the trail is completely dry except for one very brief (maybe 15 feet) snow crossing, again with a boot pack. In the flat area just before the summit, there is a final snow field which can be easily crossed or avoided. Essentially summer conditions, can be easily summited in boots or trail runners.